Leighlinbridge Oldest functional bridge in Europe

No not this. It's Ha'Penny Bridge, wonder why they called it the Hapenny, I guess, during the olden days if you want to cross from the south side to the north side you need to pay a penny for crossing. I am just kidding. Anyway, you can goggle a little if you interested in this bridge. As usual, like most European destination bridge, you see hundreds of lock stuck in there by tourist.

This is it, reputedly one of the oldest functional bridge in Europe. Below the castle lies a priory dated back 1270. No we didn't see the priory, I bet there lots of evidence of Carmelities presents in this part of the world. Because the bridge is built during 14th century.

If you really look at the picture, you notice the architectural buildings and bridge decades apart except the river still flows the same. Bridge is 14th Century, the house is early 18th century, the pyramid building is 21st century. However, the large antennae dated back 1980's.

 You wouldn't have give a second thought if you in this village or passing through. The road is small, just enough for 2 cars. If one car park at the road side, you will be stuck or waiting for the other traffic to ease. 

Many famous people born here, Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran, third Archbishop of Sydney, John Tyndall, prominent 19th century physicist, Myles Keogh, American Civil War military, fought in Indian Wars and was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. The family of Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada. Even the meteorite landed here in the late 1999. If you visiting Ireland, make it a list for the place you want to see before you die.
  

As usual, no matter which village I stop, I never leave before getting a nice piece of steak. But this butcher is very special, he still retains the chain curtain and most of all its the only butcher I ever see in Ireland that sells home produce free range beef and lamb. No, I am not going to talk about how the beef like. I do it when I gather more family butchers around the country.

 The buildings with lots of windows was once a warehouse and office for barley and malt storage, and this river plays a very important role during the 17-18 century. They delivers all the booze raw materials to Dublin.

You would be surprised to see such a sign board. this is Gaelic, the real Irish language. I bet you be in for a big surprise if I said, this is a 4in1 shop. Its not just a local grocer store, its a convenience store with, bar and bookies..lol  You can put a bet and watch the horse race, meantime, enjoying a pint of Guinness  get yourself a sandwich and on you way back, tell you wife you go get a milk.....

I know its hard to read, double click it and expand. While I was reading this plaque, my mind was wondering back to the dark ages. I felt myself there except, I can't wait to get back to grill my yummy steak.... Have a good day folks.

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Ashbourne the land of crops

If you have not much time and like to see some crops and take some pictures of haybays and country scene, drop in Ashbourne. Its about 10 km from Dublin city.

On you way, you find many interesting artifacts which is still display along the road. Don't think you can find any bronze age stuff here.

A boring coolie chained to the ground.

Shooting a nice portraiture out in the field, there are few taboos you need to observed, be it padi fields or any field with one or two colors background. You don't want your subject grinning at your lens, you have to tell them to keep their fingers. They love to show peace sign all the time and have no meaning at all.

Quite often many camera holders makes the same mistakes over and over again. If you visit a beautiful scenic spot. They are so engross over the place and forget the details. As they start looking through his collection. He wonder why he did not capture the crops.

 Think of bread, beers, stout and breakfast. The Chinese proverbs says 'Every grain is equivalent to 100 drops of sweat'. I remember my mum used to teach us never waste a grain of rice as you suffer for the rest of your life looking for it. I don't understand that.

However after going through the stage of life. I look at every one across the WWW. I think I understand what she is trying to say to me now.

Everyday you open up your facebook, you see sickness, politic, children, abuse, drugs, killing, humor and sadness. You see lots of people posting pictures of good foods they eat, where they went for dinner, what they drink. But they never post the most important of all. Its the staple food they grew up with, be it potatoes or rice. Its the unsung hero of all images. Ask a kid today where do Chicken Rice come from or where does Chips comes from? They will answer Melaka or Chicken rice stall and Mc Donald. Funny!

Through your lens, wherever you go, I am sure you bound to capture something be it from your samsung or iphone. It is very important to capture not just the food when you eat. Try capture their hand movement, their gestures, the waitress, the chef, the laughter and many more things going on around you.

King George IV was here so do many celebrities such as Guns and Roses, U2 and many more to mention.
This is Slane Castle the venue for super big concert.

Time to head back home, the leaves about to change colour, Autumn is getting nearer, Summer is gone.
Ashbourne have nothing to shout about except Slane Castle and the fields of Gold.

Howth the fishing village

King George IV was here, so do Herman & Kevin, but we only came here for one reason. The fishes and the shellfish; if you want real fishes from the North Atlantic, this is the place you want to be. Farm fish such as cod,salmon, sea bass and and some imported seafood not on my menu...Sea trout, tuna, scampi, oyster, crab, scallops and lobster is plentiful out here...

Don't mind the yacht over there, that are for rich man game, we stay on this side where the fisherman came with the loots from the sea.

Plenty of food and beverage outlets, mainly cater for tourist,. Don't expect something unique here. The normal stuff except more on seafood dishes. Pasta, seafood chowder, burger, tapas, wraps and if you lucky you find one or two restaurant selling lobster or real fish dishes.This place seriously need a specialized seafood joint.

 If you here for photography, get your wide angles, its a very beautiful spot to do many different subjects from street photography to harbor and the beauty of landscape through the mountain area.

Unlike the burren, Cliff of Moher, here you can wandered of any cliff you want but watch out for dangerous area. One mistake you a goner. Look at the centre, they are adventurous but can be fatal.

Its not a family or wheel chair friendly, if you do decide to bring your toddlers, make sure they are properly supervise for this mountain walk, The toddlers are trained to adapt this terrain and have the energy to go all the way like the boys here. Age 2 and half and 3 and half. They have gone through many mountain training and walks for miles.

Breathtaking view from the summit, great for photography landscape shooting, enjoyable exercise.

 Our catch of the day was Sea trout, Tuna and Superquinn oyster chicken thigh. Super nutritious Japanese Bento.

Carlingford the road to the North

In search for the best butcher, I travel the way up north east of Ireland. I am not looking for craftsmanship on how they display their products. I just wants to find the best meat. Don't tell me about Tesco, Superquinn , Sainsbury, or the local butcher in Dublin. Not up to expectations.

Mesmerized by the beauty of mountains surrounded Carlingford. We accidentally discovered Slieve Foy, the view is breathtaking.

I know you wouldn't believe it. Yes! there are leprechauns in Ireland, only if you can see them, Carlingford is a beautiful quiet farming village.

No we didn't expect to see a carnival out here, we were just passing by and so happen its the last day of Oyster Festival in Carlingford.

We better get moving as the weather seems not promising, stop by the road side to let the my little boys to have a pee pee and can't stop capturing the different shades of shadows and lights.

I have been standing in this spot capturing the different season for the past 7 years. Every pictures is totally different. I said to myself I will display the entire collection on this canal. Its one of the biggest man made canal in Europe, used to shipped coal to UK during the early 1700's.

Halfway between Carlingford and Newry lies a secret mountain with full of edible and poisonous mushroom. Kind of a ritual, as we love wild mushroom.

To many from the Tropical Climate, they might think what a beautiful landscape. Actually, the land are unable to plant much species that can withstand the climate and furthermore the soil is less than 1 metre thick in most places. Unlike the equatorial climate, they have vast land of virgin jungle. But for the benefits of individual richness. The supreme power Ministers destroy the land and sell the timbers with a pretense of boosting the economy by planting Palm Oil.

Would you want these to happen in Sarawak? Here, they really put every effort to grow trees and save the earth.

Time to head home, we found our nice steak, if you look for a job, don't waste your time, there ain't any.

These are the beauty queens of Carlingford having some fun.

Connemara Spinning the West Coast

Although its not one of the top 5 scenic drive, I consider it the 6th best known spin to see the North west coast. You will pass through many interesting villages. Keep your eyes open wide as you don't know when the mountains sheep jumps out. Visit the grand castle, see how peat was harvest, capture some amazing shots of the baked mountain and shoot all the Thatch house on your way.

There are many routes heading the to North West, I choose the smaller road heads out to Tuam instead of what the Gps suggested. Visit a young friend who was buried here at this cemetery. History says this was erected during the first half of the 13 century. And its called the Franciscan Friary.

The rugged beauty of the West coast are the low stone wall, you see it everywhere, story says the land in Ireland is full of stones, if you need to farm, first clear the stones. They have no where to get rid of it, so they build borders on their land, bridges  and stone house out of it. Different county have different stones, although it looks the same. The walls are actually stacks up one by one and no cement are used, works of a fine craftsman.

This natural landscape is peppered by a multitude of archaeological monuments that date back over six thousand years to the Stone Age. So watch out, you don't know what you stepping on.

Occasionally, you passed through many rivers and lakes. Keep an eye for anglers, they out there for the wild salmon and trouts. If you keen on this make sure you have a license to fish. You can get one anywhere in the local fishing stores.

Every road leads to Rome, you never going to get lost in Ireland, its rare that you get lost out in the wilderness here, plentiful of sign post, even your GPS don't work, best is, when you ask a local for direction, they helpful to show you your way, don't ask more than one as they have different routes. lol

No mosque or temples only churches in the west coast but lots of pubs, although many have closed down and yet still there are no problem getting a drink even if you in the middle of nowhere.

Here you  are, used to be a mansion for the rich farmer. Don't expect to find any food here except some sandwiches and that all. Even if you do find one, all you get is burger or fish and chips, unless you drop into one of the tourist spot. 

There are lots of Castles and ruins out in the west, you probably see one every 20km or more along the way. I can't be bother to go to every one of them as you either have to pay for getting in or its on private land.

Do you know where the Fcuk word came from? When Kevin Tan from Malaysia came here for a holiday, he relate this story to me when I show him the Yew Tree. Except this one is ancient supposing many hundreds years. Bows and Arrows are made from this kind of trees. Anyway the story goes like this, When you curse on someone or you see on the road rage, people stick their 2 fingers up to show the sign F you.
Well, during the French and English war, the soldiers have to used the two fingers to grip the arrow, and harness into the string from the bow and shoot. As they shoot they shouted Pluck you, because actually its plucking... As most soldiers during that time are illiterate or have hearing problems, it became Fcuk You. Today we don't hear much of this word as when someone swear he brings in his mother;.... for some tenderness I guess or lack of motherly love probably ..lol

Quite often you see some nice thatch cottages, although its pretty hot, roughly about 18° celcius, I guess inside this cottage must be freezing cold or some old folks living in there. The smell of bogs burning is so pleasant to your nostril except when some sudden breeze of cow dung comes along.

Ask yourself a question how on earth would someone live there..Actually there lots to do, you can fish or you can farm and lay back enjoy the beautiful mountains from your back yard and sail the lake on your front door. Tranquility and Peaceful.

 As you travel across the country you probably find some interesting things that you never thought of. Such as this petrol pump. There are no shop or garage. Behind it is a house. They are not selling fuel. Why the hell this pump come from?

 Here you are, a bus stand in front of a house, less than 3 feet and if you step out further you be mow down. I think the trend is catching up here in Ireland. I see many depleted house with fake windows or door. Maybe the council is too poor to upgrade the village frontage. Or they don't have the budget. Probably the frecking bankers and politicians spend all. God knows, could be better than plywood at least someone is creative enough to brighten up the day for photographers and tourist.

If you are really into photography or wanted to visit places at your own time and spend more time travelling to locate interesting places. You either have to drive your own or call me to show you around the country at your own pace. Going with day tours won't give you ample time for photography or enjoying the scenery much.

 John Wayne was here making the movie in the early 50's called 'The Quiet Man'. The film is notable for its lush photography and Irish country side. If you have a chance to you tube this movie and have a glimpse of it. I am sure you find it very funny and amusing. Here I am, standing the same spot where John Wayne once stand, now they have to cement the bridge as many have been taken away by tourist and antique looters. The original stones is all gone except those cannot be looted out.

John Wayne was here so do I Maxim Jalim

Check this video link here.  Connemara Drive